Kochi: Typoday 2026, an international typography conference being hosted in Kerala for the first time, commenced at Jain University, Kochi. The conference is jointly organised by the Jain University School of Design, Media and Creative Arts and the IDC School of Design, IIT Bombay. The conference was inaugurated by Prof. G. V. Sreekumar, Professor at IIT Bombay and founder of the Indian Typography Society.
Prof. Sreekumar emphasized the need to develop new fonts suited to India’s diverse languages and scripts. “India is the only country in the world with 22 official languages and 13 scripts, yet many of these scripts do not have dedicated fonts. High-quality fonts are essential for scripts such as Kurukh in Jharkhand and Tulu. It is therefore important for the younger generation to enter this field and take up typography as a serious profession, recognising it as an important medium of communication,” he said.
Muthu Nedumaran, renowned typeface designer and language technology expert, shared his experience of designing fonts in around 15 languages for leading companies such as Apple and Microsoft. “It is essential to ensure visual harmony among different scripts. When Latin, Tamil and Arabic scripts, along with numerals, are used together, there must be a precise visual balance so that one language does not overpower or distract from another,” he said. Nedumaran also highlighted the importance of the various stages involved in developing a new typeface, from research and digital drawing to testing and refinement.
Prof. Tarun Deep Girdher, Principal Designer, Graphic Design, NID Ahmedabad; Dr. Madhukumar, Joint Controller of Examinations, Jain University; Dr. Radhakrishnan Unni, Head of Administration and Finance; Dr. K. Alagappan, Deputy Director, School of Design, Media and Creative Arts and Dr. Varunan Balasubramaniam, Member, Design School Advisory Board, attended the inaugural ceremony.
The first day of the conference featured workshops led by renowned calligrapher and artist Narayana Bhattathiri, Padma Shri awardee and master calligrapher Achyut Palav, Prof. Tarun Deep Girdher, Prof. Archana Shekara, graphic designer and professor at Illinois State University, Prof. Pouya Jahanshahi, Associate Professor of Graphic Design at Oklahoma State University, Muthu Nedumaran and Prof. G. V. Sreekumar.
Held under the theme ‘Typographic Intersections: Analog to Digital and Beyond,’ the conference concludes today (September 30). The Typoday Lifetime Achievement Awards for this year will be presented at the valedictory session.
